Wednesday, 2 August 2017

Normally I don't write about when I enter any sort of scheme, contest or opportunity aimed at writers: not just because, like many a Catholic boy, I fear jinxes, but also becuase it's rather pointlss to do so. Why make a big deal out of something that isn't a certainty?

But this is different. And very nice.

Ian Atkins is the editor for the Short Trips, a range of Doctor Who audio short stories produced by Big Finish. For the last two years, they've held an annual contest to find new writing talent. How? Write a 30 minute short story, or rather its outline and opening, and then submit. The top 100 of their selection are the only ones who recieve feedback from Ian, given the sheer amount of submissions they get.

So, lookie lookie what popped into my inbox:

Hi Abel,

Thanks for writing in. We had hundreds of submissions (as last
year) and I couldn't reply to all of them. However, in some cases I
wanted to make an effort where although the work didn't quite make the
final short list, it was very, very good. I thought this was a
wonderfully human story, beautifully character-driven even when neither
protagonist is actually human, which takes some real skill. Thanks for
letting me read it,

Best wishes, and do keep writing,

Ian

This was a real pick-me-up, and I am very, very grateful for the kind words and encouragement from Ian and the BF crew.

Sunday, 30 July 2017

So, it's been a bit of a wet and windy summer in the UK, but hey, it's a proper English summer. I'm currently hard at work on a new TV pilot, as well as planning a couple of projects for the future. As always, follow my Official Facebook, for all news and updates:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

Sunday, 25 June 2017

It's boiling right now in London, but my time at MetFilm is still proving to be mighty fun. I'm drawing to a close on writing a Western screenplay, and just began sending out a book to publishers. As always, follow
my Official Facebook for all news and updates as they happen:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

This
month will be the last full month devoted to Series
10 of Doctor Who on ThirdActFilm. But first, a brand new theatrical release review. On Blasting News, I cover the latest seafaring adventure of Jack Sparrow in 'Dead Men Tell No Tales':http://uk.blastingnews.com/opinion/2017/05/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-review-jack-is-back-001732619.html

Now, back to WHOCap. The Extremis trilogy draws to a rather underwhelming close in 'The Lie of the Land':http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-the-lie-the-land-s10-ep8/Next,
the TARDIS team find Victorian soldiers on Mars, where the Ice Warriors are lying in wait, in Mark Gatiss' 'Empress of Mars':

http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-empress-mars-s10-ep9/

Then, Classic Who veteran Rona Munro returns to write for the show as she ponders the disappearance of the Ninth Legion in 'The Eaters of Light':
http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-the-eaters-light-s10-ep10/

And
finally, the time has come for the series finale, as two Masters and Mondasian Cybermen turn up in 'World Enough and Time':
http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-world-enough-and-time-s10-ep11/

Get your copy of Time Shadows here and support a really good cause for the disabled:
http://pseudoscopepublishing.com/timeshadows/

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

It's that time again! Both my life and the weather match: they're heating up. MetFilm is still proving to be one of the brigthest and most rewarding ideas I've had in a good while, and I'm now confidently at the head two, going on three, screenplays. As always, follow
my Official Facebook for all news and updates as they happen:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

This month'll be very simple, as I continue covering every episode of Series 10 Doctor Who for ThirdActFilm's WHOCap series. First, Poirot himself, David Suchet, stars as the sinister LandLord of a creepy house that gobbles students in 'Knock Knock':http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-knock-knock-s10-ep4/

Next,
the TARDIS team find themselves running out of time and air in
'Oxygen', signalling the return of wunderkind writer Jamie Matheson:

http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-oxygen-s10-ep5/

Then, we get the first of the series' three parter, as the Doctor must seek 'Veritas' within the depths of the Vatican in 'Extremis':
http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-extremis-s10-ep6/

And finally, the Doctor investigates a mysterious pyramid, smack dab in the middle of an international warzone, in the second part, 'The Pyramid At The End of The World':
http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-the-pyramid-the-end-the-world-s10-ep7/

Get your copy of Time Shadows here and support a really good cause for the disabled:
http://pseudoscopepublishing.com/timeshadows/

Saturday, 13 May 2017

So, a quick update on the world beyond reviews (which you will be updated on, as always, later this month) and what I've been up to in terms of my own creative efforts:

First term at Met Film School is done, with the second well underway. I developed a fun little fantasy comedy about demons in an office that
helped reaffirm my love of creative writing, as well as the proper processes to generate it. Generic and overused as it is to say, I was fortunate to have a great class, great
atmosphere, and great teaching. Even saw Andy Serkis' car one time as I was walking out of the facilities (and I can't say more than that, lest I breach some rule).

My children's
novel, 'Eyes of Ra' has now completed its fourth draft, finished in an outstanding five days. I hadn't touched
it in over two months, so this was a rather exciting, as well as refreshing, endeavour to work on. I even had some notes handy froma trusted individual from my school days who really know her way around a story.

I've been drafted in to help develop a feature: a pseudo sci-fi comedy adventure tale set at a university. Can't say much more than that at
the moment, as its still in the treatment stage, but the producers are young, really game and determined so, 'break a
leg', that this becomes something big and very, very rewarding. It'll be a lot of work, make no mistake, but every step counts in this type of business.

Sunday, 30 April 2017

It's that time again, updating you on all the critical goodies, and where to find them. It's proven to be quite a busy but rewarding month for me personally, and MetFilm is going quite nicely. As always, follow my Official Facebook for all news and updates as they happen:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

After, on ThirdActFilm, I talk about what many see as the end of Williams' sap years in the 1999 holocaust dramaedy, 'Jakob The Liar':
http://thirdactfilm.com/throwback-review-jakob-the-liar-1999/Next,
in the newest installment of ICFTBB, I talk about Ireland's own 'Fast
and Furious' film... made just before the first 'F&F' was even shot, in 'Accelerator':
http://thirdactfilm.com/it-came-from-the-bargain-bin-accelerator-2000/

And finally, I cover every episode of Series 10 Doctor Who for ThirdActFilm's WHOCap series, beginning with 'The Pilot':http://thirdactfilm.com/whocap-review-the-pilot-s10-ep1/

Sunday, 26 March 2017

Time again, updating you on all the goodies, and where to find them.
My Official Facebook, for all news and updates as they happen:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

First, a double bill of reviews on Blasting News, starting with Hugh Jackman's final show as Wolverine, Logan: http://uk.blastingnews.com/opinion/2017/03/logan-review-a-sombre-and-satisfying-conclusion-001524317.html

Search This Blog

About Me

A man spinning many plates: filmmaker, author, critic and all around circus clown. Or magician, depending on your viewpoint.
Follow my Official Facebook for more goodies: www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/